Talents International

The Talents International initiatives have the familiar structure and purpose of their German counterpart, all the while retaining a regional perspective and finding support and the necessary amenities in a locally based international film festival.

„At Talents Beirut, we support Talents from the Arab world by acknowledging their creativity and inviting them to rethink their work and use new perspectives to enhance their artistry and technical skills together with experts.“ - Rabih El-Khoury / Programme Manager of Talents Beirut

„Talents Buenos Aires has established itself as one of the most important cinematic events of the region. A space of reflection on South American cinema, it encourages young filmmakers on their professional paths and serves as a bridge between education and industry.“ - María Marta Antin / Director of Talents Buenos Aires

„Over the years, several features and shorts have been produced thanks to networks formed at Talents Guadalajara—a clear sign of its importance as a platform for creative exchange for the emerging film talent of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.“ - Ana Zamboni / Director of Talents Guadalajara

„Over the past 11 years, Talents Sarajevo has become the meeting and training hub for aspiring film professionals from Southeastern Europe and the Southern Caucasus. What singles it out? Being on the constant lookout for newcomers in the region and connecting them to industry leaders.“ - Asja Makarević / Project Manager of Talents Sarajevo

Talents Beirut

The latest addition to the Talents International family, Talents Beirut invites 20 emerging cinematographers, editors, sound designers and score composers from the Arab world to take part in a four-day programme of workshops and talks, allowing them to reflect on their own works, connect with other emerging creative talents and benefit from the knowledge and expertise of distinguished film professionals.

2017 Edition: A Matter of Perception
Talents Beirut 2017 will be held from September 21-25, 2017 at the Metropolis Art Cinema.

The fourth edition of Talents Beirut will focus on contemporary Arab cinema, with case studies on filmmaking, sound design, score composition, film editing and cinematography.

Experts will include Palestinian filmmaker Raed Andoni („Ghost Hunting,“ Glashütte Original Documentary Award at the 2017 Berlinale) and Kurdish-German filmmaker Soleen Yusef („Haus ohne Dach,“ Special Grand Prix of the Jury at the 2016 Montreal World Film Festival). Participants will also have the chance to learn from sound designers Nicolas Becker („Arrival“), Victor Bresse („In the Last Days of the City“) and Rana Eid („The Valley“), film editors Gladys Joujou („Insyriated“) and Andrew Bird („Gegen die Wand“), score composer Cynthia Zaven („Tramontane“) and colourist Belal Hibri („The Insult“), among others.

This year, Talents Beirut and the Network of Arab Art House Screens (NAAS) are hosting a film programming workshop for four emerging Arab film curators. In addition, the three winners of the 2017 Film Prize of the Robert Bosch Stiftung will be taking part in Talents Beirut to enhance their projects with technical know-how.

Talents Beirut is organised by the Metropolis Association and the Goethe-Institut in Lebanon. This edition will be held alongside the fourth German Film Week, which will present several acclaimed German films such as „Aus dem Nichts“ by Fatih Akin and „Tiger Girl“ by Jakob Lass.

The fourth edition of Talents Beirut will focus on contemporary Arab cinema, with case studies on filmmaking, sound design, score composition, film editing and cinematography.

Experts will include Palestinian filmmaker Raed Andoni („Ghost Hunting,“ Glashütte Original Documentary Award at the 2017 Berlinale) and Kurdish-German filmmaker Soleen Yusef („Haus ohne Dach,“ Special Grand Prix of the Jury at the 2016 Montreal World Film Festival). Participants will also have the chance to learn from sound designers Nicolas Becker („Arrival“), Victor Bresse („In the Last Days of the City“) and Rana Eid („The Valley“), film editors Gladys Joujou („Insyriated“) and Andrew Bird („Gegen die Wand“), score composer Cynthia Zaven („Tramontane“) and colourist Belal Hibri („The Insult“), among others.

This year, Talents Beirut and the Network of Arab Art House Screens (NAAS) are hosting a film programming workshop for four emerging Arab film curators. In addition, the three winners of the 2017 Film Prize of the Robert Bosch Stiftung will be taking part in Talents Beirut to enhance their projects with technical know-how.

Talents Beirut is organised by the Metropolis Association and the Goethe-Institut in Lebanon. This edition will be held alongside the fourth German Film Week, which will present several acclaimed German films such as „Aus dem Nichts“ by Fatih Akin and „Tiger Girl“ by Jakob Lass.

Talents Buenos Aires

Taking place during the Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Film (BAFICI), Talents Buenos Aires offers 65 South American participants an extensive programme of workshops and masterclasses along with the chance to develop their own projects in four ateliers (Script Development, Production, Post-Production and Talent Press).

2018 Edition
The 13th edition of Talents Buenos Aires will examine the theme „Freedom, or, This Is the Way I Like It“ („La libertad o como me da la gana“) at Universidad del Cine from April 10-14, 2018.

Following the tradition of the last years, the upcoming edition of Talents Buenos Aires is named after two South American film titles: one from the renowned Argentinean director Lisandro Alonso (“La libertad”) and the other from the award-winning Chilean director Ignacio Agüero (“Como me da la gana”). This combined theme draws attention to the current state of cinema throughout the region and to the realities of contemporary filmmaking, including the challenges and limits faced by filmmakers here.

Ultimately, the theme aims to bring a group of young professionals together to reflect on the current state of film, both from a regional and international perspective. The main focus of discussion will be on how freedom and risk-taking can lead filmmakers to individual forms of authentic expression.

Following the tradition of the last years, the upcoming edition of Talents Buenos Aires is named after two South American film titles: one from the renowned Argentinean director Lisandro Alonso (“La libertad”) and the other from the award-winning Chilean director Ignacio Agüero (“Como me da la gana”). This combined theme draws attention to the current state of cinema throughout the region and to the realities of contemporary filmmaking, including the challenges and limits faced by filmmakers here.

Ultimately, the theme aims to bring a group of young professionals together to reflect on the current state of film, both from a regional and international perspective. The main focus of discussion will be on how freedom and risk-taking can lead filmmakers to individual forms of authentic expression.

Organisers
Talents Buenos Aires is an initiative of Universidad del Cine in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, BAFICI, the Buenos Aires Film Lab (BAL), the Goethe-Institut Buenos Aires and Mecenazgo Ciudad de Buenos Aires.

Talents Durban

Application period: Late February 2018
Event period: July 20-24, 2018
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Embedded in the Durban International Film Festival, Talents Durban brings together emerging African filmmakers and provides them with a unique opportunity to meet with international industry experts and mentors. In an intensive series of masterclasses, workshops and networking events, the continent’s up-and-coming filmmaking talents are encouraged to advance their careers and forge relationships with their global counterparts.

2017 Edition
The most recent edition of Talents Durban was held on July 14-18, 2017 during the Durban International Film Festival.

Celebrating 10 years as the launchpad for Africa’s young film professionals, this year’s Talents Durban invited 30 participants from 19 African countries to explore the theme “Perspectives: Seeing Things Differently.”

In an exciting addition to the programme, four directors and screenwriters working in animation and visual effects were invited, and a new Animation Studio was launched to keep Africa at the forefront of cutting-edge cinematic technology. The selected Talents were able to share ideas with fellow participants, learn from renowned mentors and experts, and take part in numerous hands-on workshops, discussions and excursions to improve the aesthetics and mechanics of their own work.

Organisers
Talents Durban is an initiative of the Durban International Film Festival in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, and is supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the German Embassy in South Africa, the Goethe-Institut South Africa and other partners.

Celebrating 10 years as the launchpad for Africa’s young film professionals, this year’s Talents Durban invited 30 participants from 19 African countries to explore the theme “Perspectives: Seeing Things Differently.”

In an exciting addition to the programme, four directors and screenwriters working in animation and visual effects were invited, and a new Animation Studio was launched to keep Africa at the forefront of cutting-edge cinematic technology. The selected Talents were able to share ideas with fellow participants, learn from renowned mentors and experts, and take part in numerous hands-on workshops, discussions and excursions to improve the aesthetics and mechanics of their own work.

Organisers
Talents Durban is an initiative of the Durban International Film Festival in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, and is supported by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the German Embassy in South Africa, the Goethe-Institut South Africa and other partners.

Talents Guadalajara

Taking place during the Guadalajara International Film Festival, the initiative welcomes 50 emerging filmmakers from Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean to an extensive programme of master classes, studios for various disciplines (acting, camera, directing, editing, script, sound design), and special labs for film critics (Talent Press) and producers (Talent Co-Production Meeting), where selected Talents present their films to producers and financiers at the Ibero-American Co-Production Meeting.

2018 Edition
The 10th edition of Talents Guadalajara will be dedicated to the theme „In Lak’ech“ („Reimagining Yourself in the Other“) and will take place on March 9-14, 2018.

Thinking we are superior to others is closely related to how little we know about them. In a world threatened by radical nationalist and heterophobic tendencies that use fear to portray the “stranger” as an enemy, Talents Guadalajara relies on the power of cinematic storytelling to allow us to enter into others’ lives for a few minutes.

Taking the Mayan greeting “In Lak’ech” (“I am another you”) as a point of departure, Talents Guadalajara offers participants the chance to get to know individuals who are different from them: their cultures, ways of thinking, religions, sexual inclination and customs. The best way to break with the habit of seeing “the other” as an adversary is to know and empathise with them through their stories, and to recognise ourselves in others.

Organisers
Talents Guadalajara is an initiative of the Universidad de Guadalajara and the Guadalajara International Film Festival in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, Goethe-Institut Mexico and FIPRESCI.

Thinking we are superior to others is closely related to how little we know about them. In a world threatened by radical nationalist and heterophobic tendencies that use fear to portray the “stranger” as an enemy, Talents Guadalajara relies on the power of cinematic storytelling to allow us to enter into others’ lives for a few minutes.

Taking the Mayan greeting “In Lak’ech” (“I am another you”) as a point of departure, Talents Guadalajara offers participants the chance to get to know individuals who are different from them: their cultures, ways of thinking, religions, sexual inclination and customs. The best way to break with the habit of seeing “the other” as an adversary is to know and empathise with them through their stories, and to recognise ourselves in others.

Organisers
Talents Guadalajara is an initiative of the Universidad de Guadalajara and the Guadalajara International Film Festival in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, Goethe-Institut Mexico and FIPRESCI.

Talents Sarajevo

Set during the Sarajevo Film Festival, Talents Sarajevo aims to connect 60 emerging film professionals from Southeastern Europe and the Southern Caucasus amongst each other and with acclaimed regional and international film industry experts. The six-day event consists of workshops, discussions, screenings, and specialised programmes for specific disciplines (Script Station, Talent Actors Stage, Pack & Pitch, and Camera Studio).

Talents Sarajevo 2017
The 11th edition of Talents Sarajevo took place from August 12-17, 2017 and focused on the theme „Close Up: Facing Realities.“

Focus „In and Out of Light“
The 10th edition of Talents Sarajevo will shed a light on the interplay between the seen and the unseen in cinema. Made of appearances, cinema has always dealt with absences. Taken by what gets framed and what shown, it implies what is left out and what stays obscured. Throughout its history, cinema has affected viewers with on-screen sounds, as much as with sounds lurking from the off-screen spaces, with overwhelming noise as with sudden silence. The tangible work of actors, directors, DPs, editors, set, costume and sound designers, has always been in the spotlight, whereas the work of a larger part of the
film industry remains invisible. The interplay between the seen and the unseen, the heard and the
unheard, brings to mind another important question, which films are being made and which will never see the daylight. The tension between the visible and the invisible, between the embodied and the pure
potential will be in the focus of attention of emerging film professionals from Southeast Europe and Southern Caucasus gathered at Talents Sarajevo from August 14-20.

Organisers
Talents Sarajevo is an initiative of the Sarajevo Film Festival in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, and is supported by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport of Bosnia-Herzegovina, MDG Achievement Fund, Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Slovenian Film Fund, Film Center Serbia, Albanian National Center of Cinematography and various embassies.

Focus „In and Out of Light“
The 10th edition of Talents Sarajevo will shed a light on the interplay between the seen and the unseen in cinema. Made of appearances, cinema has always dealt with absences. Taken by what gets framed and what shown, it implies what is left out and what stays obscured. Throughout its history, cinema has affected viewers with on-screen sounds, as much as with sounds lurking from the off-screen spaces, with overwhelming noise as with sudden silence. The tangible work of actors, directors, DPs, editors, set, costume and sound designers, has always been in the spotlight, whereas the work of a larger part of the
film industry remains invisible. The interplay between the seen and the unseen, the heard and the
unheard, brings to mind another important question, which films are being made and which will never see the daylight. The tension between the visible and the invisible, between the embodied and the pure
potential will be in the focus of attention of emerging film professionals from Southeast Europe and Southern Caucasus gathered at Talents Sarajevo from August 14-20.

Organisers
Talents Sarajevo is an initiative of the Sarajevo Film Festival in cooperation with Berlinale Talents, and is supported by the Federal Ministry of Culture and Sport of Bosnia-Herzegovina, MDG Achievement Fund, Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Slovenian Film Fund, Film Center Serbia, Albanian National Center of Cinematography and various embassies.

Talents Tokyo

Taking place each year during the TOKYO FILMeX Festival, Talents Tokyo offers a select group of 15 directors and producers from East and Southeast Asia a unique opportunity to present their own projects to experts and local industry professionals. In addition, the six-day programme includes a number of training sessions and excursions as well as lectures by distinguished international film experts who share their experiences with the participants.

Talents Tokyo 2017
The 18th edition of Talents Tokyo will be held November 20-25 during TOKYO FILMeX 2017.

The 21st century greeted us with the waves of globalization. The work environments in the arts have grown increasingly diversified, leaving the creators disoriented at times. For the Asian filmmakers sailing out on such tide, it may be crucial to understand one’s position first. During the week of Talents Tokyo, the participants come to identify their current positions and devise respective positioning through the interaction and networking with the Experts and their fellow Talents. The lasting networks will not only serve as a mirror but also help them thrive beyond the workshops towards a fruitful future. Talents Tokyo provides each Talent with an opportunity to discover his or her own map and compass, which today’s filmmakers in Asia should all utilize (or so the organizers believe) to catch the smallest wave in the vast ocean of the film industry.

The 21st century greeted us with the waves of globalization. The work environments in the arts have grown increasingly diversified, leaving the creators disoriented at times. For the Asian filmmakers sailing out on such tide, it may be crucial to understand one’s position first. During the week of Talents Tokyo, the participants come to identify their current positions and devise respective positioning through the interaction and networking with the Experts and their fellow Talents. The lasting networks will not only serve as a mirror but also help them thrive beyond the workshops towards a fruitful future. Talents Tokyo provides each Talent with an opportunity to discover his or her own map and compass, which today’s filmmakers in Asia should all utilize (or so the organizers believe) to catch the smallest wave in the vast ocean of the film industry.

Talent Press Rio

Talent Press Rio is aimed at contributing to the education and training of film critics who write in Portuguese, generating opportunities of exchange between Portuguese-speaking countries in the cultural field while also strengthening and improving the cultural links between the respective nations.

Who can apply?
Film critics and journalists from the following countries: Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea-Bissau, Macau, Mozambique, Portugal, and São Tomé and Príncipe.

Organisers
Talent Press Rio is organised in partnership with Berlinale Talents, the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, the Goethe-Institut Brazil and FIPRESCI (Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique).

Organisers
Talent Press Rio is organised in partnership with Berlinale Talents, the Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival, the Goethe-Institut Brazil and FIPRESCI (Fédération Internationale de la Presse Cinématographique).